Chilliwack was a Canadian rock band that existed during the 1970s and 1980s. They are perhaps best remembered for their two songs "My Girl (Gone Gone Gone)" and "Whatcha Gonna Do." However, while only having a few hits in the United States, the band has achieved legendary status in its native Canada.
The band initially formed as the Classics (1964) in Vancouver, British Columbia, but later changed the name to the Collectors (1966). The original band members were: Bill Henderson (guitar, vocals) Claire Lawrence (keyboards, saxophone) Glenn Miller (bass) Ross Turney (drums) Howie Vickers (vocals)
After Miller and Vickers left the group in 1970, the band changed its name to Chilliwack, a Salish term meaning "going back up". The band released several records that were moderately successful in Canada.
In 1978, Brian MacLeod (guitar, drums, keyboards) and Ab Bryant (bass) joined the band. Chilliwack enjoyed its greatest success with this new lineup. The singles "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)" (1981), "I Believe" (1982), and "Whatcha Gonna Do (When I'm Gone)" (1982) were popular both in Canada and in the U.S. The band was extremely popular at the time, and was regarded as the Canadian answer to the Grateful Dead. Rolling Stone Magazine wrote: "At their best, Chilliwack was the finest Canadian rock band, outrocking BTO and outwriting Burton Cummings. But a lack of consistency kept it from international success."
Henderson and MacLeod received a Best Producer Juno Award in 1982 for Opus X. MacLeod left the band soon after, and Chilliwack's last new recording was released in 1984. Henderson and Lawrence continued to tour with other players until December 1988.
